1978 Toyota Corona vs. 1981 Volvo 343
To start off, 1981 Volvo 343 is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Toyota Corona. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Toyota Corona would be higher. At 1,986 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Volvo 343 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Volvo 343 (117 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 33 more horse power than 1978 Toyota Corona. (84 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Volvo 343 should accelerate faster than 1978 Toyota Corona.
Both vehicles are rear wheel drive (RWD) - it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, both vehicles do the job better than front wheel drive vehicles. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 1981 Volvo 343 (160 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 25 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Toyota Corona. (135 Nm @ 3400 RPM). This means 1981 Volvo 343 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Toyota Corona.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Toyota Corona | 1981 Volvo 343 | |
| Make | Toyota | Volvo |
| Model | Corona | 343 |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1587 cc | 1986 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 84 HP | 117 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 135 Nm | 160 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3400 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 85 mm | 88.9 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 70 mm | 80 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Length | 4300 mm | 4210 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1660 mm | 1670 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1400 mm |
